What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and
the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are
used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain,
neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

What is a Doctor of Chiropractic?

Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic
physicians – practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient
examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also
trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional,
dietary and lifestyle counseling.
DCs may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and
other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is
not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when
chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management
in conjunction with other health care providers.
In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be a patient’s primary method of
treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic services may complement or support
medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
Like their MD colleagues, doctors of chiropractic are subject to the boundaries established in state
practice acts and are regulated by state licensing boards. Further, their education in four-year
doctoral graduate school programs is nationally accredited through an agency that operates under
the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education. After graduation, they must pass national board
exams before obtaining a license to practice, and then must maintain their license annually by
earning continuing education (CE) credits through state-approved CE programs.

What is Spinal Manipulation?

One of the most common and well known therapeutic procedures performed by doctors of
chiropractic is spinal manipulation (sometimes referred to as a “chiropractic adjustment”). The
purpose of spinal manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into
joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury.
Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object,
or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an
extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that
can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for an individual. Manipulation, or adjustment
of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness,
allowing tissues to heal.
Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience
mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves
within 12 to 48 hours. Compared to other common treatments for pain, such as over-the-counter and
prescription pain medications, chiropractic’s conservative approach offers a safe and effective
option.